I'm really not the number one slacker in Soul Society.

“I guess so,” Mima nodded, “but only the most basic part.”

—This isn't a lie; he genuinely didn't know much about the Shiba family.

The reason is simply that the Shiba family is now too poor and can no longer compare with the four noble families or even their subordinate forces.

Having served in the Gotei 13 for over ten years, Yama has only met Kaien and Isshin, two members of the Shiba family. As for Kukaku and Ganju... they probably haven't even made their debut yet.

Under these circumstances, even if Mima had extraordinary abilities, he wouldn't be able to figure out exactly what was going on with the Shiba family.

"Then I'll just focus on the key points."

Shikatori Hakuryuu said bluntly, "They have a secret technique that allows them to consume all their Shinigami power in a very short time, thereby unleashing an extremely terrifying fighting force... I think it's called something like 'The Last Moon'?"

So the final Crescent Moon Slash really is a family heirloom technique of the Shiba clan?!

Chapter 99: Are there no normal people left?

“But this secret technique has a release condition—that is, obtaining the consent of the Zanpakuto’s consciousness.” Shikatori Hakunsai glanced at Kitomaru. “To put it bluntly, after the Shikai stage, the Zanpakuto understands the power of the Shinigami better than the Shinigami himself, including ‘how to make the Shinigami use the power directly without the Zanpakuto’s knowledge.

"This is really..."

Mima stared in astonishment, instinctively placing her hand on the hilt of Ryugetsu's sword.

"Consider the above amount as a deposit."

Lu Qubaiyunzhai suddenly changed the subject: "As for the specifics of how to do it... I'll find an opportunity to tell you later."

Mima: "?"

The atmosphere has reached this point, isn't it a bit much to stop talking now?

What did that sentence say?

I hate two kinds of people the most. The first kind is those who only say half of what they mean!

"..."

Mizhen rubbed her temples, suppressing her curiosity, and steered the conversation back to her original purpose: "Since you're not going to finish, senior... I won't press you further. However, I have another matter I'd like to ask you for a favor."

Lu Qu Baiyunzhai: "?"

The explanation section follows a pattern of this and that.

.......................................

After emerging from the dark chamber, Mizhen, now back in her female skin, fell into deep thought.

Shikato Hakunsai readily agreed to his request, thus adding another powerful figure to the operation to beat up Shihōin Hyakugetsu the next day.

But now all he could think about was that tempting offer from earlier.

Using abilities directly without going through the "releasing the Zanpakuto" step seems unnecessary.

That's not the case. In battles at the captain level and above, sometimes even a difference of a fraction of a second can determine the outcome.

Why don't we... ask Liuyue first?

Standing in the desolate grassland, Mi Zhen sat cross-legged, leaned Liu Yue against herself, closed her eyes, and calmed her mind.

A few seconds later, he opened his eyes again and found himself sitting in that familiar room.

Liu Yue was sitting in front of the computer, clicking the mouse idly, completely unlike the way Mi Zhen had stared at him the moment she walked in.

It's obvious they're hiding from something.

Mizhen stood up, tugged at her collar, and strolled behind the computer desk, calmly looking at Liuyue.

stare~

Liu Yue awkwardly looked away, alertly asking, "W-why are you looking at me like that?"

As soon as this attitude was presented, Mizhen immediately understood.

“Before you came in, I wasn’t sure if you understood anything,” Mima said with a gentle smile. “But now it seems I don’t need to waste my energy trying to get information out of you.”

"No, no, no, no."

Liu Yue immediately shook her head vigorously, like a rattle-drum: "Absolutely not! Even if you beat me to death, I won't tell!"

"Oh?" Mima raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"That woman definitely has mental problems!"

At this point, a subtle hint of... terror appeared on Liu Yue's expression?

"If you want to continue being a decent person, just forget about this!"

Liu Yue's attitude... is really quite strange.

Mizhen put away her teasing expression and asked with a slightly serious tone, "What happened?"

"..."

Liu Yue was silent for a while, then snapped the running game shut twice. She then shook her head in frustration for a few moments before sighing and turning to Mi Zhen, saying, "Let me make this clear beforehand, this is just a guess. I am not responsible if I am wrong."

“It doesn’t matter.” Mi Zhen shrugged. “Who doesn’t make mistakes? I’m not the type to be perfect either.”

"Okay... but you have to agree to one condition first."

"condition?"

Mima scratched her head: "As long as it's not too outrageous..."

"Then swear on your conscience."

As Liu Yue spoke, she gently pressed her chest—but it didn't cause any ripples.

Unfortunately, her bust size is only around 75. Not to mention the first leader of the Eighth Division who just left, even compared to Lisa, she can only be considered poor. She is a pathetic person who can only use her face as a selling point.

"What are you thinking!"

Liu Yue suddenly flew into a rage.

Mizhen glanced sideways and said, "Cough... It's nothing, it's nothing, please continue."

"...In short, you need to be more careful about Lu Qu Ba Yun Zhai in the future." Liu Yue rubbed her temples. "Although I have no right to interfere with your decision, that woman definitely has a problem—I mean on a mental level."

"After all, she's a killer from the old man's generation. It would be strange if she were mentally sound."

Mima, who felt that Ryugetsu was making a mountain out of a molehill, first raised an eyebrow, then seemed to realize something: "Wait, which problem are you referring to?"

Liu Yue clicked her tongue: "...Then let's start from the beginning."

"To put it simply, a Zanpakuto is like a car to a Shinigami. Although you can move around whether you have it or not, the efficiency of walking and driving is naturally incomparable."

Mi Zhen nodded casually: "I do know that principle."

“That’s it.” Liu Yue shrugged and continued, “I don’t know if she has any other methods, but before you find out, you’d better keep a basic level of vigilance. For example, if investor Wang Yue of Ermeiwu built an engineering facility next to the Death Oil Field, but someone thinks the equipment is not working well and plans to build a new one for themselves, what should they do?”

"Develop it yourself?"

"More or less." At this point, a hint of anxiety appeared in Liu Yue's expression. "Think about it further. With a sample in hand, what is the fastest and most thorough way to understand the operating principle of a piece of equipment?"

"..."

Now, Mima realized: "Dismantle the research?"

“That’s right.” Liu Yue nodded. “However, the Eighth Division isn’t technically inclined, so she might use a… more down-to-earth approach.”

After taking a deep breath, Liu Yue lowered her eyes and said, "—Devour."

Mima stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and then tentatively asked, "...It shouldn't be the kind of devouring I'm thinking of, right?"

Liu Yue sighed, stood up, walked to Mi Zhen, opened her mouth, and made a biting motion: "If you ask me, it should be this kind of 'devouring'. As for whether that woman used any special methods, we don't know."

Mizhen fell into deep thought.

In matters like this, Ryugetsu, as a Zanpakuto, is definitely more knowledgeable than him, and her speculation is quite credible.

Well, as expected of a senior, they really know how to do things in a fancy way...

"Let's just assume she ate her own Zanpakuto for now..." Mima pressed her temples twice. "But this is ultimately her private matter, so it's normal for her to act a little perverse, as long as it doesn't affect the harmony..."

"No, no, no, you don't understand, that's the problem."

Liu Yue shook her head solemnly: "'Devouring' is followed by 'absorption'. When this process occurs at the level of consciousness, it means that the consciousness of the devourer and the devoured will merge to a great extent—the consequences are unknown. They may become crazy, have a split personality, or at best, their personality may be shattered and then rebuilt."

"Does that mean... if I swallow you, I'll turn into a sissy who likes to make dirty jokes?"

“Although I don’t really like this way of putting it… that’s roughly the idea.” Liu Yue sighed. “Master, do you understand? Your partner is very likely a complete madwoman—and madwomen can’t be understood by common sense, even if she acts perfectly normal.”

"This is fucking..."

Mima rolled her eyes, then gave a sad look: "But I don't have a choice. You know how hard it is to find someone with that level of strength, right?"

"So I'm just offering you a suggestion, not openly opposing her. After all, she might actually have some unique technology." Liu Yue shrugged. "But don't even think about biting me, or no one will help you unleash your full potential later."

"...I didn't transmigrate from some weird cannibalistic fantasy world."

After casually refuting the joke, Mima suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

Think about your current team composition.

...It seems there's no need to think about it anymore; everyone is a villain. Even Anise has eaten many of her own kind raw in Szayelaporro's laboratory.

I just wanted to be a good person, so why did things turn out like this...?

"Okay, thanks for your advice."

After some thought, Mizhen decided on her strategy.

Actually, nothing has changed. Cooperation will continue, but we need to be more vigilant.

"Okay then, you go ahead and get busy, I still have a few games to play."

Liu Yue returned to her computer desk and skillfully clicked the mouse.

"Then let's... wait a minute."

Mima suddenly remembered something and subconsciously asked, "Didn't you want me to agree to a condition? What was it?"

"Oh right! I almost forgot about that."

Liu Yue was taken aback, then quickly pulled a small mirror from the drawer of her computer desk and placed it in front of Mi Zhen.

"Could you please not use my appearance when you come in next time..." Liu Yue stared at the face that looked exactly like her with a subtle look: "If this continues, you'll turn into a sissy even without eating me."